Killer lurked while boy, 13, was with woman Victim reportedly paid her with crack

June 30, 1992|By Michael James | Michael James,Staff Writer

Antwan "Troy" Stewart, 13, spent the last night of his life in a room in Northwest Baltimore, where he paid a 24-year-old prostitute with crack cocaine while a gunman waited outside to rob him, according to city police.

The boy left the room after paying with "ready rocks," or crack cocaine, according to witness statements given to police investigators.

Outside, on the street in the 2300 block of Whittier Ave., the robber pointed a gun at him.

But the boy resisted, and told the gunman, "You're going to have to stick that gun in my mouth," investigators said.

The gunman pointed the gun into the boy's mouth, pulled the trigger and rifled the boy's pockets, taking either cash or drugs, police said.

When police arrived in the early morning hours of June 20, Antwan was dead. On his body were plastic bags typically used to package cocaine.

Yesterday, about 100 people marched to the shooting scene and held a vigil.

Some chanted "Stop the killing, Down with crack" and others yelled, "We love Antwan. Down with coke, up with hope."

"It's not just street kids being corrupted. There are also innocent kids of good families, like Antwan," said the Rev. Willie Ray, a pastor of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church who organized the march.

Antwan was a seventh-grader at Lemmel Middle School.

After the slaying, Antwan's parents said they had been called to the school at least 10 times because the boy had skipped classes.

Police said several witnesses claim Antwan left his home in the 3500 block of Holmes Ave. in the early morning hours on June 20 to meet with a 24-year-old neighborhood prostitute.

After he met the woman at an apartment in the 2300 block of Whittier Ave., about four blocks from his home, he "paid" her with bags of cocaine, the witnesses told police.

The day after Antwan's death, police arrested Kevin Felipa, 29, of Southwest Baltimore, and charged him with first-degree murder.

Emmaline Stewart, the boy's mother, marched with the group yesterday. But before she did, she spoke of her feelings for the people who played a role in her son's death.

"I want that woman locked up," said Mrs. Stewart, referring to the prostitute. "My boy was only 13. That's rape."

Police said the woman was held overnight for questioning but she was not charged because there is no evidence showing that she performed a sexual act with the boy.

"They locked her up and they let her go. I really don't understand why," Mrs. Stewart said.

Mr. Ray said he also plans to hold a vigil tomorrow for 3-year-old Andre Dorsey, who was shot and killed last week in his East Baltimore neighborhood.

The suspect in that slaying is 15 and remained on the run from authorities as of last night.

Altogether, 17 children under the age of 15 have been shot in Baltimore so far this year.

"Drug dealers are using our kids. They want a popular, likable kid like Antwan, because he has influences in his neighborhood," Mr. Ray said.

"The drug dealers put a $100 bill in a teen-ager's pocket and they make them believe they're going someplace."

Police said Antwan Stewart had no arrest record as a juvenile.

His parents said they had gotten indications of trouble he was having in school, but they never suspected he was dealing drugs.

It is unknown where the boy got the drugs he was allegedly carrying the night he was killed, police said.